Trap for toilet bowls



Nov. 4, 1952 w. B. CRAMER 2,616,094

TRAP FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Sept. 2, 1950 2 SHEETS -SHEET l 1 6 'u A m]13 wju 15 l v v 18 -T21 9 LI i 2 WEN 25 INVENTOR.

Eg.2 WILLIS B. CRAM ER.

I BY

Nov. 4, 1952 w. B. CRAMER TRAP FOR TOILET BOWLS 2 SHEETS-SHEE'P 2 FiledSept. 2, 1950 INVENTOR. WILLIS B. CRAMER.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP FORTOILET BOWLS Willis B. Cramer, Perrysville,. Ohio, assignor to.Mansfield Sanitary Pottery, 1110;, Perrysville, 0hio,.a corporation ofOhio- Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 18 2.940

9: Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to water closet bowls and isparticularly concerned. with a new trap for such bowls of the wash down,reverse trap and siphon jet types.

Commercial standards which have been set up by manufacturers,distributors and users in cooperation with the Commodity StandardDivision of the National Bureau of Standards specifiy certain minimumdimensions. The trap specifications for the wash down and the reversetrap types of water closet bowls are that the minimum depth of waterseal must be 2% inches and the siphon trapway must pass a 1 /2 inchdiameter solid ball. In the siphon jet type of water closet bowl theminimum depth ofwater'seal'is 3 inches and the siphon trapway must passa 2 /3 inch diameter solid ball.

Since it is necessary to insure completev emptying of the bowl each timeit is flushed, and it is also desirable or even necessary to conservewater, manufacturers have resorted to constructions which are designedto limit. the velocity of flow of water into a discharge passage andmaintain the siphon effect during the emptying off the bowl. One form ofsuch construction included a discharge passage bent forwardly andbackwardly so as to increase the flow friction and limit the outletvelocity to such an, extent that the siphon eilect would not be brokenand the water would not bewithdrawn from the bowl at a faster rate thanit enters the bowl from the tank. This particular form of constructionand other types of construction have employed siphon trapway passageswhich are not substantially larger than the 1 /2 inch or 2 /3v inchdimensions which are required by the specifications as just stated. Sucha restricted and tortuous. pas.- sage may be made either as a separateoutlet trap defined by separate outside supporting walls or by drawingthe outside supporting walls together laterally to a point where theymay becomev the sides of the outlet.

When the trap is made by using'separat outside walls, the bowl is undulyexpensive to make. When the walls are drawn laterally toward each other,the supporting pedestal under the bowl at the location of the trap isnarrowed and there is considerable tendency for the bowl to warplaterally during firing. Any such warping can be compensated for only bygrinding off the lower edge of the base or foot so that th top of thebowl will be substantially level but such grinding adds to the cost andin some cases the warpage is so great that even grinding will notsalvage P the piece.

The restriction; of the. cross-sectional area. of the outlet. passagesubstantially to'the: minimum permissible dimensions. is. adisadvantage. because elongated articles flushed. out. of the bowl maylodge within the trap from which they may not be easily removed. v

The present invention. aims to overcome. the foregoing difficulties andaccomplishes these aims by providing a trap which isof much largercross-sectional area than the present prescribed minimum sizes, butwhich will v maintain the re.- quired siphon effect.

The large trap permits free passage. there.- through of any solidarticle which can move thereinto and will accommodate, in this respect,solid articles. much longer than the longest that may now beaccommodated with standard size outlet passages. It requires no morewater than the present bowls and permits the degree of flow retardationto be varied in a wide range without any change in the cross-section ofthe outletpassage. It also affords such support to the bowl assubstantially to prevent marked or serious warpage.

The present. invention will be better understood by those skilled in theart from the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the longitudinal centralplane of a water closet bowl of the washdown type embodying one form ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view'ta-ken one line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal, sectional views taken on lines 33 and 4-4,respectively-, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5' is a vertical, sectional view taken on thelongitudinal centralplane of a water closet bowl of the reverse trap type embodying thepresent invention in a modified form;

Fig. 6' is a horizontal, sectional view'ta-ken' on line 6-45 of Fig. 5;and

Fig. '7 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on line '|-'l of Fig.5.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the water closet shown comprises a rectangular foot orbottom wall I having a marginal flange 2 to rest on a floor, a bowlincluding upwardly and outwardly extending side walls 3 and a rear wall4 and a trap including front wall 5 and parts of walls 3. The wallsv 3and 4 are united at their upper ends to av perforated rim 6communicating, with an opening l through which water may enter from atank or flush valve (not shown). The side walls 3 rise 3 from the foot Isome distance back from its side edges but curve outwardly as at 3atoward those side edges near the front end of foot I where they becomesubstantially vertical and join with vertical wall 5 to form a wallwhich defines a substantially vertical tubular space.

A cross wall 8 extending between side walls 3 and forwardly from rearwall 4 partly defines on its upper side a water-retaining chamber 9 andwell 9a. Thi wall 8 cooperates with side walls 3 and foot I to define awaterway I through which flowing from well 9a through the trap mayescape to a horn or sewer outlet l2.

An inner, downwardly extending wall l3 disposed adjacent to rear wall 4serves to define therewith a jet passage [4 through which water from thetank may flow into the water-retaining chamber 9.

A slab [5 extends inwardly and downwardly from front wall 5 toward. wall8. At its forward end wall 3 is joined to a vertical wall or dam [6which is connected at its sides to one wall 3a and to front wall 5 andextends across the tubular vertical space-within walls 3a at an acuteangle to the longitudinal central plane of the bowl and divides thatspace into two passages ll and I8 which are of substantially equalhorizontal crosssectional area and each of which has a long axis and ashort axis.

Theupper edge of wall 16 is inclined downwardly toward the bowl and itslower edge is near but above a laterally sloping surface of part of footI.

The passage ll communicates in its lower portion near one end of itslong axis with the waterretaining chamber 9 through the space betweenthe lower edge of slag l5 and the upper surface of wall 8. This passage[7 communicates at its upper end over the top of dividing wall IS withthe other passage l 8 and the latter passage communicates in its lowerportion near one end of its long axis with a turbulence chamber is. Thewalls 3a, surface 26 and the part of wall 8 above surface 20 define theturbulence chamber l9 which receives water from passage l8 anddischarges it through outlet 2| into waterway ill.

From the foregoing description and the drawings, it will be understoodthat the short axis of each of passages l7 and I8 is equal to theminimum dimension required by the above stated specifications, i. e., a1 inch diameter solid ball will pass between walls 8 and I5 into thelower end of passage I1 and will move upwardly through that passage andwill also move downwardly in passage I8 and through the turbulencechamber l9 into waterway It. It will also be understood that the longaxis of each of these passages is much greater than the short axis andthat due to this greater length, articles longer than l inch may passthrough passages IT and I8. In general, it may be stated that anyarticle which can move from the water-retaining chamber 9 into passageI! will move through passages l1 and I8, turbulence chamber l9 andwaterway II]. This insures against the lodging of solid articles in thetrap whence they cannot be readily removed.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that wall 5 and the adjacent side walls 3aare substantially vertical, and are nearly as wide as foot I and, thusafford good support for the bowl against warping.

The foot I is preferably rectangular and has holes for hold-down meanssuch as bolts extending therethrough some little distance back from itsside edges, the walls 3 rising from the foot between such holes.

The siphon is maintained in the trap just described, despite itsenlarged cross-sectional area, by reason of the new actions and motionsof the outflowing water which result from the combination andarrangement of parts constituting the trap.

The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 4 is substantially asfollows:

'When water is brought into the bowl from the tank through jet I 4, itflows across chamber 0 into well 9a and is there deflected by wall itlaterally toward wall 3a at the farther end of the long axis of chamber1?. When the thus flowing stream strikes wall 3a it is deflectedupwardly and forces water out of passage [7 over the top edge of walll6. Since the upper edge of this wall is inclined downwardly from itsforward end toward chamber 9, water tends to flow first and inconsiderable volume over the part of wall l5 above the laterallyinclined surface 29 of foot I. Some of the upwardly deflected stream ofwater in passage l1 tends to flow downwardly, i. e., clockwise along thewall I 6 and thus creates eddy currents and considerable turbulence inthe passage with the result that the opening from chamber 9 into chamberI1 is sealed against loss of the siphon effect throughout the time thatwater is entering through jet Hi. The water which flows downwardly inpassage i8 and is intercepted by the laterally inclined wall 29 isthereby directed laterally across the lower part of that chamber againstthe front wall 5 and the side wall-3a which define that passage. Sincethis latter wall is curved, it induces a counterclockwise rotation ofthe water, when viewed from above as indicated in Fig. 3, and thuscreates eddy currents and turbulence in the water. The water flowingover the higher edges of wall l6 increases such turbulence by fallingonto the counter-clockwise moving currents. The water containing theseeddy currents and this turbulence then passes through. the turbulencechamber l9 and into waterway ID with continued sealing of the outletfrom the turbulence chamber being maintained with consequent maintenanceof the siphon effect throughout the time water is flowing through let M.

It'will be understood that because of the eddy currents and turbulencewhich is created in chamber l7 and also in the lower portion of chamberl8 and in chamber E9, the rate of outflow of water is greatly reducedand as a result the siphon effect may be maintained even though thepassages in the trap are larger in cross-sectional area than has :beenpossible heretofore.

Figs. 5 to 7 show a reverse trap type of water closet bowl whichembodies a modification of the present invention. The illustrated bowlhas a rectangular foot 38 having a laterally sloping surface portion 3|and having a horn or water outlet opening 52. Rear end wall 33 and sidewalls 34a extend upwardly from foot 30 and define a tubular spacetherewithin. These walls are attached to a hollow perforate rim 35 attheir upper ends and walls 34a are attached at their edges to side walls3% of the bowl. Rim 35 communicates with an opening 38 through whichwater may enter from a tank or flush valve (not shown). A wall 49extends downwardly and horizontally from the front wall of the bowlrearwardly between side walls 34 and is provided with a jet opening 4!.This wall 46 constitutes the bottom wall of water-retaining chamber 42and the upper wall of waterway 43 and chamber 43a, the waterway 43having opening 4| as an outlet. A slab 44 extends into chamber 42 anddefines with wall an outlet 45 from chamber 42.

At its rear end wall 40 joins a vertical well 46 which extends acrossspace 41 defined by walls 33 and 34a at an acute angle to thelongitudinal central plane of the bowl. This wall 46 has a top edgewhich inclines downwardly and forwardly toward the bowl and has a bottomedge above the laterally sloping bottom wall portion 3|. Wall 46 dividesspace 41 into two passages 48 and 49, the former communicating throughinlet 45 with chamber 42 and the latter communicating with a turbulencechamber 50 having inclined wall 3| as a floor and opening into waterway4311 which has the outlet 52.

A passage is formed in one wall 34 and leads from chamber 56, into whichwater flows from the tank or flush valve (not shown) through opening 36,to the waterway 43. Water flowing from the tank through passage 55 intowaterway 43 will flow through jet opening 41 into water-retainingchamber 42 and thence through outlet 45 into passage 48 of the trap.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, isquite like that described in some detail in connection with Figs. 1 to4, in-

clusive, and repetition of that description is beu lieved to beunnecessary.

Having thus described the present invention so that others skilled inthe art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state thatwhat I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A water closet comprising a. foot, a bowl above and connected to saidfoot and a trap, said trap including substantially vertical end and sidewalls rising from the foot and merging into the bowl and defining atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,and a substantially vertical dividing wall extending across said spaceat an acute angle to said central plane and dividing said space into twopassages of substantially equal horizontal crosssectional area.

2. A water closet comprising a foot having a laterally inclined topsurface, a bowl above and connected to said foot and a trap, said trapincluding substantially vertical end and side wall-s rising from thefoot about said inclined surface and merging into the bowl and definin atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,and a substantially vertical dividing wall extending across said spaceat an acute angle to said central plane and dividing said space into twopassages of substantially equal horizontal cross-sectional area.

3. A water closet comp-rising a, foot, a bowl above and connected tosaid foot and a trap, said trap including substantially vertical end andside walls rising from the foot and merging into the bowl and defining atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,a substantially horizontal cross wall extending into said space, and asubstantially vertical dividing wall extending upwardly from said crosswall across said space at an acute angle to said central plane anddividing said space into two substantially triangular passages ofsubstantially equal horizontal cross-sectional area.

4. A water closet comprising a foot having a laterally inclined topsurface, a bowl above and connected to said foot and a trap. said trapincluding substantially vertical end and side walls rising from the factabout said inclined top surface and merging into the bowl and defining atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,a substantially horizontal cross wall extending into said space and asubstantially vertical dividing wall extending upwardly from said crosswall across said space at an acute angle to said central plane anddividing said space into two passages of substantially equal horizontalcross-sectional area.

5. A water closet comprising a foot, a bowl above and connected to saidfoot and a trap, said trap including substantially vertical end and sidewalls rising from the foot and merging into the bowl and defining atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,and a substantially vertical dividing wall extending across said spaceat an acute angle to said central plane and dividing said space into twopassag-es of substantially equal horizontal cross-sectional area, saiddividing wall having a top edge inclined downwardly toward said bowl.

6. A water closet comprising a foot having a laterally inclined topsurface, a bowl above and connected to said foot and a trap, said trapincluding substantially vertical end and side walls rising from the footand mergin into the bowl and defining a tubular space at one end of thelongitudinal central plane of said bowl, and a substantially verticaldividing wall extending across said space at an acute angle to saidcentral plane and dividing said space into two passages of substantiallyequal horizontal crosssectional area, said dividing wall having a topedge inclined downwardly toward said bowl, and a substantiallyhorizontal bottom edge disposed above said laterally inclined topsurface of the foot.

7. A water closet comprising a foot, a bowl above and connected to saidfoot and having a water-retaining chamber and a waterway therebelow,and'a trap, said trap including substantially vertical end and sidewalls rising from the foot and merging into the bowl and defining atubular space at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl,and a substantially vertical dividing wall extending across said spaceat an acute angle to said central plane and dividing said space into twosubstantially triangular passages having long and short axes andsubstantially equal horizontal cross-sectional area, the top edge ofsaid dividing wall being inclined downwardly with its lowest elevationbeing near one end thereof, the top surface of the foot within saidtubular space being inclined downwardly and laterally from a placevertically below the lowest part of said top edge of the dividing wall.

8. A water closet comprising a foot, a bowl above and connected to saidfoot and having a water-retaining chamber and a waterway therebelow, anda trap, said trap including substantially vertical end and side wallsrising from the foot and merging into the bowl and defining a tubularspace at one end of the longitudinal central plane of said bowl, and asubstantially vertical dividing wall extending across said space at anacute angle to said central plane and dividing said space into twosubstantially triangular passages having long and short axes andsubstantially equal horizontal cross-sectional area, the top edge ofsaid dividing wall being inclined downwardly from its outer end to itsend adia- .cBnlZtQ:Said:bO. W1;,thfi top surface; of: the footwithinsaid: tubular space "sloping: downwardly and laterally frcmsauplacevertically belowg the lower 811d, of said top edgeof the dividing wall.

9:, Eli-water: closet Comprising a foot, a bowl above andsccnnected tosaid foot, a cross wall definingra; water-retaining chamber in said bowland a watemvay therebeneath and a, turbulence chamber connectedto saidwaterway; and a trap, trap including sulostantially vertical end andside:wallsrisingfmmrthe footabout saidlaterally inclined surface and:merging into the bowl. and defining a tubular space" atone end oftherlongitudinal; central; plane of saidbowl, and a. substantiallyvertical dividing wall extending upwardlyifrom-said cross wall andacross said tubularspace at-zan-acute: angle-to said; central plane andldiividing'saidi space into two substantially trian ular passages, of.substantially equal; horizontalQcross-sectiona-l area, said dividingwall havinga substantially horizontalbottom edge and aitopraedgeinclined. downwardly'to its lowest elevation atthe and adjacent; to saidwater-retain ing chamber, the top surface ofsaid foot being inclineddownwardly and laterally with its highest portion verticaly beneath thelowest elevation of said top edge of the dividing wall to receive Waterflowing over the dividing wall and directed along the: adjacent verticalside and end Walls defining the tubular space and: into the turbulencechamber.

WILLIS B. CRAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references of record in the file'of'thispatent: I

UN ITED STATES PATENTS

